DETROIT LIONS: Kickalicious serious about NFL quest WITH VIDEO

Detroit Lions placekicker Havard Rugland, left, of Norway, and Sam Martin practice ball placement during the NFL football rookie minicamp in Allen Park, Mich., Saturday, May 11, 2013. Rugland, whose trick-shot video turned him into an Internet sensation, is all business now. The Lions signed him a month ago, and now his focus is on adapting to a new sport and trying to make the team. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

ALLEN PARK -- It's not all about the video for Havard "Kickalicious" Rugland, but it's that four-minute kicking sensation video on YouTube that opened doors for him and gave him a shot at the NFL.

The Norwegian, who has kicked for many of his 28 years, was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions and is participating in Lions' rookie minicamp this weekend.

From Norway to the NFL? What are the chances?

"If you asked me two weeks before I made the video? Nope,'' Rugland said on Saturday.

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His Kickalicious nickname may not sound NFL-like, but this is not some kind of gimmick.

"I'm really serious about it, I'm doing my best to get better everyday and I think just ... There's a lot of people who want a spot on an NFL team so you have to perform good,'' Rugland said. "They wouldn't sign me if they didn't see something in me like talent or potential. I want to do my best and I'm really positive.''

In the video he kicks a football through goal posts from long-range, into a boat on a lake and through a basketball hoop. It's spectacular, but wasn't all done in one take.

"You just wonder how many times did he have to kick it to the trash can before he made,'' coach Jim Schwartz said. "No matter how much everybody thinks, those basketball shots they might sit there for three days trying to make one. They finally make it -- there's a reason they look so happy they make it -- probably because they're tired they tried for a thousand times.''

Well not 1,000 but maybe 40 according to Rugland.

"The basketball hoop (on a crossbar) I kept hitting the rim and I wanted it to go straight in, that's a lot of work,'' Rugland said. "Could easy have been 40 (takes).''

That was the most intense trick on the video that made Kickalicious a phenomenon and got his name out after more than 4 million views. He first had interest from low-level rugby clubs, a few American colleges and then the New York Jets.

He tried out with the Jets and Cleveland Browns too, but the Lions were the only team that offered him a contract. It wasn't because of the video, it was from the workout they put him through.

"You could tell on that video he had leg strength and he could control the football,'' Schwartz said. "Those were important things. After he worked out here, we had a feel for his leg strength on kickoffs and his accuracy. We liked what we saw and we think we can work with him.''

Rugland signed a three-year deal with no guaranteed money.

The Lions signed veteran NFL kicker David Akers to fill the cleats of Jason Hanson who retired after 21 seasons. Rugland is certainly more of a project.

He might be the first or one of a small club of NFL rookies who have never actually played football.

He wore a football helmet for the first time on Friday, the first day of the rookie minicamp. He's been working with retired NFL kicker Michael Husted but never wore a helmet.

"I thought about it but I didn't do it,'' Rugland said. "I've got a pretty big head it's not something where you can throw me a helmet and I can use it. At least need XL helmet.''

NFL helmets weigh six pounds, but he said it hasn't been a hindrance or affected his balance.

"I kicked inside (Friday) it felt pretty good, I didn't have a problem with it,'' Rugland said. "In soccer your head follows the football and I'm trying to keep my head down. It almost helped me out a little bit.

He's been working with punters Sam Martin and Blake Clinglan on the sidelines during camp.

It's not a competition to see how far he can kick a field goal. Yet.

"It doesn't feel like it counts when you don't have snap and hold and don't have NFL football,'' Rugland said. "I'll tell you in a few weeks.''

He has kicked from 58 or 59 yards but hasn't attempted any from longer distance.

Looking back making the video may be Rugland's ticket to the American/Norwegian dream of playing in the NFL.

"I wanted an opportunity to show my skills that would be good,'' Rugland said. "I had no idea it would end up like this. I was lucky, got the opportunity and performed well and here I am.''